March 2015 Member of the Month: Anne Martin

How long have you been a member of Scarborough Arts?I have been a member of Scarborough Arts for 12 years.

What kind of art do you practice, and how long have you been practicing it?I have been painting since 2001. I find it very exciting to take a blank canvas and create something unique from an infinite source of subject matter. However, I do love to experiment with a variety of media: pastel, oil, acrylic, coloured pencil, and mixed media (collages) – basically everything except watercolour. Depending on my mood, each medium becomes my favourite!

Tell us about the pieces we are featuring today.

Picnic by Anne Martin

I did this piece recently as a result of a class with Gary Smith, a great artist and teacher. My style tends to be somewhere between realism and abstraction. I like to mix representational elements with less defined ones. This way I am able to achieve a looser, more painterly style.

Colours by Anne Martin

I did two landscapes recently – one more representational and this one more abstract, although hopefully you can still tell it is a landscape. I love working in complementary colours.

Where is your favourite place in Scarborough to go for inspiration?My go-to place in Scarborough for inspiration is the Bluffs. I love visiting and taking photographs in any season. In the summer I sometimes do some plein air painting there, as well as at Rosetta McClain Gardens with my art group.

What is the best piece of artistic advice you have ever gotten?The best advice I received was from an artist friend when I was just starting. He suggested that I go to as many art shows and exhibits as possible, look at paintings from both past and present artists, and talk to artists and ask lots of questions. This has been an ongoing learning process, supplemented by regular workshops and participation in juried and non-juried shows. In any human endeavour, we do not create in a vacuum but learn from those that came before and then add our own perspective to our work.

——–Every month, we profile a different Scarborough Arts member. If you’re a member and would like to be profiled, send an email to marianne [at] scarborougharts [dot] com for more information.

Is it even possible to have a favourite artist?
I don’t think so!
But definitely, Anne Martin is one of my favourites, as a person and as a wonderfully creative spirit. I love her use of colour and freedom in her style. I particularly love the feel of ‘Picnic’ – beautifully done.

Is it even possible to have a favourite artist?
I don’t think so!
But definitely, Anne Martin is one of my favourites, as a person and as a wonderfully creative spirit. I love her use of colour and freedom in her style. I particularly love the feel of ‘Picnic’ – beautifully done.